Topic: SecurityBlog Brand: Middle East WatchRegion: Middle EastTags: China, Iran, Israel, Russia, and UkraineHow the Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East Are Weakening America’s Enemies July 1, 2025By: Matt CooksonShareShare this link on FacebookShare this page on X (Twitter)Share this link on LinkedInEmail a link to this pageRussia’s war in Ukraine and Iran’s conflict with Israel have backfired, weakening America’s adversaries and strengthening deterrence, sending a signal to China and bolstering US global credibility.As the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East rage on, the military strength of the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to decline. Isolationists bang the drums that Israel’s campaign to destroy Iran’s nuclear program risks the spread of a nuclear world war. However, reading between the lines reveals something entirely different. Rather than start a world war, the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have seriously hampered the capabilities of America’s enemies and made the world a safer place. Why the Wars in Europe and the Middle East Are Bad for RussiaWhen Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022, he anticipated a quick and easy victory, similar to the first invasion that led to Russia annexing Crimea. And yet, here we stand, more than three years later. While Russia has seized some Ukrainian territory, it is a long way away from absolute victory. The invasion has cost Russia thousands of casualties and billions of dollars in military equipment. The situation for the Russians has come to the point of needing North Korean soldiers and Iranian drones on the front lines. Thus demonstrating how much the Ukraine War has depleted the Russian military. Although it is undoubtedly in Ukraine and America’s interest to bring an end to the war, the conflict has significantly weakened an American and Western adversary. A weakened Russia matters to the West for several reasons. First, a less powerful Russia is less able to threaten NATO members. The Poles and the Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia) all live in fear of Russian expansionism. Russia has invaded Ukraine multiple times and also invaded the nation of Georgia back in 2008. Even if you’re not a believer in NATO, avoiding an Article 5 obligation to defend NATO members from Russian invasion is well within American interests. Second, Russia is less capable of projecting power abroad to regions like the Middle East. The fall of the Assad regime is one notable example of this. The focus on the Ukraine conflict left the Kremlin unable to assist Assad against the rebels who overthrew his regime. While it remains to be seen if this is a net positive in the long term, the new Syrian government has not interfered in Israel’s or even complained about Israel using Syrian airspace to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. In addition, Russia is unlikely to provide aid to Iran as it seeks to ward off Israeli attacks. Lack of Russian assistance makes it more likely Israel will destroy Iran’s nuclear program and less likely that the war will expand. How the War in Ukraine and Against Israel Weakens IranThat brings us to the next member of the Axis: Iran. The events of October 7th were an unspeakable evil against the Jewish people and led to the death of thousands of people in the subsequent war. If there is a silver lining to this conflict, it is that it has led to a significant weakening of Iranian proxies. Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis have all seen their capabilities significantly worn down by the Israeli military and intelligence operations. Thanks to the actions of Israel, Lebanon has warned Hezbollah from getting involved in Israel’s strikes on Iran. While Hezbollah maintains influence in Lebanon, even this relatively soft rhetoric from the Lebanese government would have been unthinkable a few years ago. How the Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East Weaken ChinaShifting to East Asia, China is the biggest threat to the major powers opposing the United States. In addition to having the most significant military and the largest economy of the three, it is also the most intertwined with the US. The United States depends on China for critical medical supplies and rare earth metals needed for military technology. Beyond the supply chain risks, China is also a geopolitical rival. Going back decades, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) views the United States as an enemy. The CCP aspires to a great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Part of that is reclaiming (ie. conquering) what they believe to be the renegade province of Taiwan. This is a problem for the US because Taiwan produces 90 percent of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Chips that are needed in everything from cell phones to fighter jets. If China takes Taiwan, the US will be even more dependent on an adversary for the resources we need to defend ourselves.While the US is taking steps to diversify the source of chips, such as building plants domestically, this is a long-term solution to the problem. In the short term, it is in America’s interest to ensure Taiwan remains free from CCP rule. While arming Taiwan is a large part of this, it is also essential that China believes the US will remain a credible supporter of Taiwan in the event of an invasion. That is another reason why the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East matter. If China believes the US is a reliable supporter of its allies, it gives the CCP a reason to hesitate in moving on Taiwan. President Trump is right to want an end to the war in Ukraine, but if the US chooses to abandon Ukraine, then there will be consequences outside of Europe. The world is a perilous place; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, Israel is destroying Iran’s nuclear program, and China is eyeing Taiwan. The Trump administration must remain vigilant and committed to peace through strength. War is not desirable, but both wars have left major adversaries of the US in a weaker state. If we want to prevent conflict from spreading, US policy makers need to demonstrate a commitment to our allies, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and others. If our rivals see we mean business, they will think twice before acting out militarily. About the Author: Matt CooksonMatt Cookson is an alumnus of the Young Voices Contributor Program and was a Middle East History and Policy Fellow with Young Voices. He also works in the supply chain for a US Defense Contractor. His commentary has appeared in the Mises Institute, RealClear Politics, The National Interest, Visegrad24, American Thinker, Providence, China Source, and the Idaho Freedom Foundation. You can follow him on X @MattCookson95. Image Credit: Shutterstock/miss.cabul.The post How the Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East Are Weakening America’s Enemies appeared first on The National Interest.